Question

In a busy emergency department, which patient would be the nurse's priority for immediate care?

A) A patient with a history of diabetes complaining of blurred vision and dizziness.
B) A patient with a sprained ankle and moderate pain.
C) A patient with a sore throat and low-grade fever.
D) A patient with severe chest pain and shortness of breath.

Answer 1

The nurse would prioritize the patient with severe chest pain and shortness of breath for immediate care, as these symptoms could indicate a life-threatening condition requiring urgent medical intervention.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a busy emergency department, the nurse's priority for immediate care would be the patient with severe chest pain and shortness of breath (Option D). This is because these symptoms could indicate a potentially life-threatening condition such as a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or pulmonary embolism, both of which require urgent medical intervention. The other patients, with symptoms of blurred vision and dizziness (Option A), a sprained ankle (Option B), and a sore throat with fever (Option C), while they may require care, do not present with symptoms that are as immediately life-threatening as severe chest pain and shortness of breath.

Thus, triaging in the emergency department involves assessing the severity and potential for the symptoms to cause significant harm or risk to the patient's life, thereby establishing which patient requires the most urgent attention.